thebattalion ● tuesday,
october octob be err 6 6,, 2009
● Serving
Texas A&M since 1893
Standing
● first paper free – addit additional copies $1 ● © 2009 Student Media
in silence
Dec. 15, 1990 —
June 26, 1989 —
Aug. 2, 2009
Sept. 8, 2009
Anthony Hany Awad
Robert Spencer King Jr.
Anthony Hany Awad, d, a freshman biomedical science major, died on Aug. g. 7 when a car carrying his grandmother Nadia Bassily, sily, two brothers John and Daniel Awad, and both of his parents Eman and Hany Awad lost control on the way back from Florida. Anthony, John and Nadia were killed in the accident. Anthony died 24 days before the start rt of his freshman year at Texas A&M University. “I never got to enjoy my son as an Aggie,” Anthony’s mother said.
Robert Spencer King, Jr., a 20-year-old sophomore general studies major, died Sept. 8 in a motorcycle accident at the interBoulevard. section of Wellborn Road and Joe Routt B King was born June 26, 1989 in Housto Houston, Texas and grew up in Katy, Texas. played fullback on the state championship He attended Katy High School where he pla finalist football team and graduated in 2007. King was studying mechanical engineering at A&M to fulfill his longtime dream. “He wanted to be an engineer; he had wanted that for a very long time. That’s the way he worked through things was to take them apart See King on page 8
See Awad on page 6
March 21, 1989 — Aug. 30, 2009
Sept. 19, 1978 — Sept. 2, 2009
Colter Dean Bright
Jun Surk Park Although he only attended A one day of class at Texas A&M, A& Jun Surk Park was a dedicated Aggie, excited d about ab the opportunity to study at A&M. Park was a doctoral student in the department of recreation, park and tourism pa sciences. sc He had been diagnosed with leukemia le and died due to complications from f a cerebral hemorrhage on Sept. 2. “He was really happy to be in the Aggie family,” said recreation, park and
The Aggie family mourns the loss of Colter Dean Bright, a 20-year-old sophomore omore poultry science major. Bright died August ust 20, in College Station. The cause of death iss unknown. Police responded to an emergency call all to Bright’s home early in the morning. He was found unconscious and not breathing by the See Bright on page 6
See Park on page 8
Sept. 7, 1985 — Aug. 30, 2009
Jason Gregory Dawson
Silver Taps: 10:30 p.m. today in Academic Plaza
Jason Gregory Dawson, n, a senior human resource and development elopment ma- jor, died on Aug. 30 from a brain infarction in College Station at age 23. Dawson had head trauma from m 2003 and had been seeing several different neurologistss for his condition. He had a seizure in his sleep and his roommate mmate found him unconscious. He died the next morning. g. Born in Dallas, Dawson moved to Fort rt Worth with his See Dawson on page 6 File Photo — THE BATTALION
A&M remembers Borlaug Norman Borlaug
Memorial
■ March 25, 1914 – Sept. 12, 2009
■ Memorial 11 a.m. today in Rudder Auditorium
■ Developed disease-resistant wheat to fight hunger
■ Doors open 9:45 a.m. today for seating ■ Reception 12:30 -1:30 p.m. today in Rudder Tower
■ Father of the Green Revolution
■ Event video broadcast live at kamu.tamu.edu
■ Texas A&M distinguished professor of international agriculture
■ Medals on display in Rudder, 9:45 a.m – 1:30 p.m. today
■ 1970 Nobel Peace Prize
■ Scholars symposium 3 p.m. todaya in Koldus 110
■ 1977 Presidential Medal of Freedom
■ Flags in Texas flown at half-mast today in his honor
■ 2007 Congressional Gold Medal
Julie Rambin, staff writer
compete for honors, the state of Texas has first place by the National Association of Town Watch. Off campus, 39 block parties from all over the community are signed up for National Night Out. Officers are given their list, and they make sure to stop by, said Sgt. Janice Kemp, College Station Police. “Police and the fire department will stop by the parties and hand out crime prevention pamphlets that we put together,” Kemp said. The main goal of the block parties to See Night out on page 8
Katy Ralston, staff writer
The Battalion
pg.1-10.06.09.indd 1
Beginning Wednesday Martin Luther King Boulevard in Bryan will be closed between Tabor Road and Bryan Avenue for two months, pending weather conditions. Traffic will be detoured to 22nd Street to avoid the construction site. Motorists are encouraged to use an alternate route. The closing marks the beginning of the $675,000 Phase Three of the city’s five-year $40 million reconstruction project. Phase Three focuses on downtown rehabilitation consisting of paving and landscaping improvements, drainage, water, and replacement of wastewater utilities, installing existing electrical, cable and telephone lines underground and redesigning an undersized storm sewer. “It’s ultimately going to extend the improvements from the previous Phase One on Main Street from 24th Street all the way up to Martin Luther King,” said project manager Joe Seago. The purpose of the Martin Luther King project is to replace infrastructure and reconstruct the streets. During the Martin Luther King Boulevard closing contractors will be reconstructing the roadway and installing a sanitary sewer, water line and storm sewer. Previous phases of the project have included improvements to Bryan Avenue and Villa Maria.
The Memorial Student Center Wiley Lecture series will present “Dissecting the Health Care Debate,” featuring James Rohack and Nancy Dickey and moderated by Alan Xenakis at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Rudder 301. “Our speakers will be discussing the current state of the health care situation and the current legislation in congress and possible ramifications it will have on health care in this nation,” said Wiley series marketing director Alex Allen. Admission is free, and students are encouraged to take part in the discussions. “At a time of historic health reform, Texas A&M students are being given an outstanding opportunity to voice their opinion with national experts on a topic that will shape their lives, and the lives of their families in the future,” Allen said. James Rohack is a senior staff cardiologist at Scott & White Clinic in Temple, Texas and president of the American Medical Association. Nancy W. Dickey is the president of the Texas A&M Health Science Center and the vice chancellor for Health Affairs for the Texas A&M University System. The moderator, Xenakis, is a clinical assistant professor with the department of humanities in medicine at Texas A&M’s Health Science Center college of medicine.
Vicky Flores
give out information on identity theft. There will also be giveaways every 30 minutes with prizes including lawn chairs, iTunes cards and an mp3 player. On the day of the event the Rec Center will be open to student’s families for free. Although the night is about crime prevention, A&M competes with the University of Texas at Austin for honors in the most successful block party. “Two years ago we were awarded honors, last year it was them, so we have to take our prize back this year,” Hosea said. Even though different communities
Martin Luther King Boulevard closes for construction
Health care debate to be discussed Wednesday
National night out at the Rec The 26th annual National Night Out will take place at the Student Recreation Center tonight from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. “National Night out is the crime prevention program of the year to bring law enforcement and the community together in open communication about fighting crime,” said University Crime Prevention Officer Kristi Hosea. The block party on campus will have demonstrations, door prizes and free food for students to get involved with crime prevention. “We will have a show and tell police car and fire truck,” Hosea said. “The rollover convincer will be there which is a demonstration to promote wearing a seatbelt.” Among many organizations that will be there to promote safety, Wells Fargo will
Guest column: Traditions Council speaks on the history and importance of Silver Taps. voices | 9
Jeremy Northum — THE BATTALION
10/5/09 9:58 PM